GCN contributor David Ferguson is back with his annual Christmas playlist of queer festive songs.

I wasn’t actually going to do one this year because I didn’t think I could find any new songs or a new angle. I like to try and come up with a (mostly) new list every year. I then came up with the concept of music by gay icons we know and love. Purely by chance, the list is all women, apart from one collaborator on one song.  

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland

When you think gay icon, you probably think of Judy Garland. For an iconic lady, it is appropriate to have an iconic Christmas song. The song was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the musical Meet Me in St. Louis. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, the character of Esther (Judy Garland) sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie (Margaret O’Brien). I didn’t actually realise that she was so connected to the song when I picked this one. It is a wonderful performance. 

We Need A Little Christmas by Angela Lansbury

This song originated in Jerry Herman’s Broadway musical, Mame. It was first performed by Angela Lansbury. Lansbury, who had already had multiple Oscar nominations, won a Tony Award for her performance. Her fellow cast member and lifelong friend, another gay icon, Bea Arthur won a Tony Award too for a supporting role. The song is performed after Mame has lost her fortune in the 1929 Wall Street crash. She decides that she and others “need a little Christmas” to cheer them up. I only discovered this one in the last few years and it has become a favourite. 

Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton

Another musical number. This one was written by composer-lyricist Carol Hall for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In the film version of the musical, Dolly Parton (who played Miss Mona) is featured as soloist on the refrains, with the other girls accompanying her. I also discovered this one in the last few years and it has also become a favourite. Also previously featured in a version by RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Barbara Mitchell. There is also a brilliant version by gay icon Cyndi Lauper. More on her in a bit. 

Do You Hear What I Hear?  by Whitney Heuston 

This song was written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne. It was written as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Whitney Houston’s version first appeared on A Very Special Christmas (1987), the first in a series of Christmas-themed compilation albums produced to benefit the Special Olympics. ’80s kids may remember the Johnny Mathis version from the first Gremlins movie from 1984, which I consider a Christmas movie. 

Sleigh Ride by Spice Girls

This song was composed by Leroy Anderson. He formed the idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946. The earliest performances were recorded before lyrics were added. In 1950, publisher Mills Music commissioned Mitchell Parish to write lyrics. The Ronettes recorded a cover in 1963, which was successful in the United States and the song has since become associated with Christmas. The Spice Girls’ version appeared on their single 2 Become 1, which itself was their first UK Christmas number one in 1996. They would go on to have two more with Too Much (1997) and Goodbye (1998).

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by Céline Dion 

This song was released in 1971 as a single by the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. It was a protest against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. It has occasionally re-emerged on the UK singles chart, most notably following Lennon’s murder in December 1980, where it reached number two in the charts. Céline Dion’s version appeared on her 1998 Christmas album, These Are Special Times. These Are Special Times was released after two of her most successful albums, Falling into You (1996) and Let’s Talk About Love (1997). This song was previously included on one of my playlists, a version by Miley Cyrus and Sean Ono Lennon. 

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Cher, Rosie O’Donnell 

Originally sung by Darlene Love,  this song first appeared on the 1963 album A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, and Phil Spector. Cher actually performed backing vocals on the 1963 version. The version I selected, a duet with Rosie O’Donnell, appeared on Rosie O’Donnell’s album Another Rosie Christmas (2000). I encourage people to look the album up as it has quite an eclectic mix of performers. Cher recorded another duet version, this time with the song’s original artist, Darlene Love, for Cher’s album Christmas in 2023.

From A Distance (Christmas Version) by Bettle Midler

This one is unusual, as in it was not originally a Christmas song. American singer-songwriter Julie Gold wrote it in 1985. Nanci Griffith first recorded it for her 1987 album Lone Star State of Mind. However, it is mainly known as a cover version by Bette Midler, which was released on her album, Some People’s Lives (1990). Midler re-recorded this Christmas edition for her Christmas album, Cool Yule (2006), with additional lyrics by Jay Landers. It would appear that, yes, everyone has at least one Christmas album.

A Christmas Duel (2008) by The Hives & Cyndi Lauper

This is a duet recorded by the Swedish rock band, the Hives, and my personal favourite gay icon, Cyndi Lauper. It was released in 2008. The Hives lead singer said of the song, “Growing up, it was only ‘O Holy Night,’ which I really like now, but being a young punk, it was the enemy… We wanted to have this juxtaposition of really sweet music and nasty lyrics.” As for how the collaboration took place, “We came up with the song, and we figured it was a duet, and we’d always hoped to do a duet with Cyndi Lauper. We thought she had a really cool voice.” The song appears on No Ho Ho: Alternative Christmas Holiday Anthems (2009). Not one for most offices, given the lyrics. 

Santa Baby by Kylie Minogue

This song was first performed by Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra and originally released in 1953. The song was written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer. Kylie originally recorded a cover version in 2000. It was used as the B-side to her single Please Stay, from her seventh studio album Light Years (2000), on select physical releases in 2000. It also appeared on her first Christmas album, Kylie Christmas (2015). Kylie Christmas has been reissued twice. The first reissue, released on 25 November 2016, was an expanded edition titled the Snow Queen Edition, which included a collaboration with singer-songwriter Mika. A second reissue, titled Fully Wrapped, was recently released. 

Happy listening!